Page 1 of 1
calculating work
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:03 pm
by Aschreck 2G
How does one calculate work of an irreversible system? I'm a bit confused on the difference between reversible/irreversible
Re: calculating work
Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:07 pm
by jennifer_zhou2C
Reversible uses more work. The equation for that is w=-nRTln(V2/V1). For irreversible, use the equation w=P delta V. The pressure of work is the pressure of surroundings.
Re: calculating work
Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:49 am
by Chem_Mod
The above discussion is correct! Just some clarification: reversible work w=-nRTln (V2/V1) is applied in ISOTHERMAL process. For irreversible process, it is w=-P deltaV